Final Fantasy XII Walkthrough

Pharos Third Ascent

The Sigil Route

You are now on the 80th floor, and this is a little tricky. You’re looking for Black, Green, Red, then the color matching your sacrifice. Go up to the platform and touch the Black Sigil.

Area Enemies: Pharos Third Ascent

Choose an enemy to open its stats and loot chances. Mark, Rare Game, and Trophy badges flag special targets. Choose it again to collapse.

Zombie Warlock

Hostile

Important! Begins under Shell and Faith. Dispel it or defeat it before its Magick overwhelms the party.

Chain family: Zombie
Level: 48–50
LP: 1
HP: 7,598–7,958
EXP: 3,838–4,158
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
200 Gil	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Purobolos

Hostile

Important! A Haste-capable Bomb that will sacrifice itself explosively. Defeat it before low HP turns the encounter into an area-damage problem.

Chain family: Bomb
Level: 49–50
LP: 1
HP: 9,351–9,691
EXP: 3,554–3,730
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Dead Bones

Hostile

May begin under Protect, Shell, and Haste. Defeat the spawning group one target at a time if a wrong Sigil sends the party to the sealed undead room.

Chain family: Skeleton
Level: 49–50
LP: 1
HP: 11,122–11,302
EXP: 4,233–4,393
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Necrofiend

Hostile

Begins under Shell and Faith and appears from defeated enemies. Defeat it before its Magick adds pressure to an existing group.

Chain family: Ghost
Level: 48–51
LP: 1
HP: 12,709–13,249
EXP: 4,809–5,289
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Aeronite

HostileFlying

Important! A dangerous Flying enemy on narrow platforms. Use Lightning, ranged attacks, or an appropriate Technick and avoid letting its low-HP damage increase surprise the healer.

Chain family: Wyvern
Level: 49–50
LP: 2
HP: 18,004–18,684
EXP: 6,156–6,356
Weakness: Lightning

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Cataract Aevis

HostileFlying

Important! A Third Ascent-only Bestiary entry on the normal story route. Defeat one on 82F now to avoid another full climb.

Chain family: Dragon
Level: 50–51
LP: 2
HP: 23,241–23,921
EXP: 8,078–8,281
Weakness: Lightning

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
50 Gil	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Tower

HostileRare Game

Important! Repeatable Rare Game with a 20% check on 88F. Steal Einherjarium, avoid Holy damage, and treat Grand Helm as an optional long farm.

Chain family: Babil
Level: 59–60
LP: 14
HP: 136,638–136,878
EXP: 8,484–8,732
Weakness: Dark; absorbs Holy

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
Item	No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
	40%	45%	50%	55%
	3%	6%	8%	12%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Third Ascent Sigil Route
Step	Action
1	80F, Spire Ravel, First Flight: Touch the Black Sigil to reach 81F, then take the eastern stairs to 82F.
2	82F: Defeat a Cataract Aevis in the eastern square room for its Bestiary entry. At the southeast corner, break the Fool’s Facade. Cast Float before crossing the trap, take the from the hidden chest, then touch the Green Sigil.
3	83F: Check the nearby chest for a possible . Take the right path, break two Fool’s Facades, climb onto the platform, and touch the Red Sigil.
4	84F: Take the from the guaranteed chest, then touch the Sigil matching the sacrifice restored after Fenrir.
5	86F: Go straight north, break the Fool’s Facade, and use the colorless White Way Stone to reach 88F.
6	88F: Handle the optional Tower and map detour before using the Dais of Ascendance. Buff the party, cast Float, and ride the elevator to 90F.

When you arrive at the next point, go east all the way to the wall, then turn south a little. There’s a Fool’s Facade here. Destroy that. Inside is a trap to the north. Cast Float and grab the Dragon Whisker out of the chest hidden by the trap. Once you get that, touch the Green Sigil here.

You’ll be teleported to the northeast corner of the map. Take the right path to another Fool’s Facade. Break it, then another. Ascend to the platform there, and touch the Red Sigil.

In the next area, grab the Circlet in the treasure chest, then touch the Sigil that matches the color of the sacrifice you made during the ascent. Pinkish for me, since I sacrificed the map; yellow if you gave up Items; white if you gave up Attack; and purple-blue if you gave up Magicks. If you end up at the beginning of the previous area, you’ve chosen the wrong sacrifice!

You should now be in the northwest area. Straight ahead is a column telling you to choose the Way Stone with no color. Anyway, straight north from the location you entered is another Fool’s Facade. Strike it and use this Way Stone to get to the end.

Optional: Tower and the Third Ascent Map

The large construct at 88F has a 20% chance to be . If it is absent, use the White Way Stone in the southwest to reach the room north of the undead trap, then return to 88F and repeat. On the first trip through that room, open the doors and collect the Third Ascent map from the undead room before returning north.

Equip Thief’s Cuffs and steal before attacking. Tower absorbs Holy and is weak to Dark, so do not use Excalibur. Dispel its Protect, Shell, and possible Bravery, then use Dark or strong neutral damage. Its drop is extremely rare; do not hold up the story unless that specific farm matters to you. The Rare Game page keeps the spawn loop and item warning together.

Hashmal

Buff up and cast Float before using the Dais of Ascendance and riding the elevator to floor 90.

Boss Fight Prep

Float: Keep every active character floating. This completely avoids Quakeja and the Slow attached to it.
Gear: Give the tank a shield and strong physical defense. Keep or another Silence defense available for the fights after Hashmal.
Recovery: Prepare Cleanse for Disease from normal attacks and strong healing for Roxxor. Put KO recovery above attacks.
Damage: Hashmal absorbs Earth, is weak to Wind, and is immune to the other six elements. Use Wind damage or dependable neutral physical attacks. Do not use an Earth weapon.
Steal: Equip . Hashmal carries , , and rare .

Boss Fight: Hashmal

Level / HP	Level 50 with 209,060 HP.
Steal	, , or .
Weak / Absorbs	Weak to Wind and absorbs Earth; immune to Fire, Lightning, Ice, Water, Holy, and Dark. Oil is the only useful hindering status.
Reward	52 LP and the Hashmal Esper license.
Drops	None.
Strategy	Dispel Protect immediately, keep one shielded tank under Decoy, and maintain Float. Cleanse Disease promptly. Below 50% HP, Hashmal gains Attack Up and stops spending MP, so preserve the party’s healing margin and finish decisively.

Steal a Leo Gem and a Hi-Potion, Dispel his Protect, and use the Nihopalaoa/Remedy trick to hit him with Oil. Now just Firaga him. Don’t use your Excalibur during this battle because he’s immune to Holy damage. Quakeja will NOT hit any ally that’s floating. You’re welcome. ;) Congratulations, you’ve acquired the Esper Hashmal, Bringer of Order.

The Final Climb

Equip your new Esper if you want, then head up all the way to the 98th Floor and save at the save crystal. There are no ordinary encounters on this climb. Touch the Way Stone and settle in for the cutscenes.

Judge Gabranth

Boss Fight Prep

Defense: Protect or is enough for most of his physical pressure. Keep one healer above attacks.
Dispel: Remove his opening Haste. At roughly half HP, a scene restores Haste and gives him a Magick Barrier, so Dispel again.
Damage: He has no elemental weakness or absorption. Use your best neutral physical damage.
Steal: Equip . , , and are the three tiers. After the mid-fight scene, use Steal again; it can yield another item.

Boss Fight: Judge Gabranth

Level / HP	Level 47 with 64,049 HP.
Steal	, , or . After the mid-fight scene, use Steal again for another item.
Weak / Absorbs	No elemental weakness or absorption. Most hindering statuses fail; Silence and Oil remain possible but are not needed.
Reward	18 LP.
Drops	None.
Strategy	Dispel Haste, maintain Protect, and attack. At roughly half HP, the scene gives Gabranth Haste and a Magick Barrier; remove Haste again and finish with physical damage.

You can steal a Potion from Gabranth, but what’s the point? Just Dispel, Nihopalaoa/Remedy and go after him. Silence and Oil suggest you might want to use Fire, yes? Wow. Two Firaga and he’s down to his next form. Steal another Potion or Hi-Potion, and repeat. He goes down pretty easily.

Doctor Cid and Famfrit

Boss Fight Prep

Gear: Do not use Excalibur. Doctor Cid absorbs Dark and halves six elements; Famfrit absorbs Water and is weak to Fire. prevents the Silence attached to Waterja.
Buffs: Enter with and . Dispel Cid’s Protect, Shell, and Haste immediately, then Dispel Famfrit when it appears.
Target change: Attack Cid until he summons Famfrit at roughly half HP. Cid then becomes immune to physical and Magick damage, so retarget Famfrit immediately. Return to Cid only after Famfrit falls.
Damage: Holy is ideal against Cid before Famfrit arrives. Oil works on both; Fire is especially useful against Famfrit.
Steal: Cid carries , , and rare . Famfrit carries , , and rare . Steal from each without letting Waterja or the target transition overwhelm the healers.

Boss Fight: Doctor Cid and Famfrit

Level / HP	Doctor Cid is level 50 with 82,093 HP. Famfrit is level 52 with 149,060 HP.
Steal	, , or from Cid; , , or from Famfrit.
Weak / Absorbs	Cid is weak to Holy, absorbs Dark, and halves the other six elements. Famfrit is weak to Fire, absorbs Water, and is immune to the other six elements.
Reward	18 LP from Cid, 52 LP from Famfrit, and the Famfrit Esper license.
Drops	None.
Strategy	Dispel and damage Cid until Famfrit appears. While Famfrit lives, Cid’s Paling and Magick Barrier make him untargetable for damage. Shift every attacker to Famfrit, remove its Protect and Shell, cure Waterja’s Silence, and use Fire or neutral damage. After Famfrit falls, return to Cid and finish quickly through his stronger final traits.

Now you get to fight Cid again. Steal a Hi-Potion and/or a Magepower Shishak, cast Dispel, use the Nihopalaoa/Remedy trick, and go to town on him. When he gets to about halfway, he’ll call Famfrit. Steal an Elixir from Famfrit, then waste him. Be sure you’re not using Excalibur, by the way. Cid will become immune to physical and Magickal damage. Go after Famfrit at this time. When you kill him off, you can go after Cid again. If you can dodge his main attacks, you should be able to take him out before too long. You’ll get the Esper Famfrit, the Darkening Cloud for your trouble. Hey! I’ve got a great idea! Let’s save some money by not rendering what happens next… Oh never mind.

The can contribute to the package; the post-Pharos Bazaar checkpoint explains what must be sold together.

Back in Balfonheim

After the cutscenes, the game gives you a chance to save and returns the party to Balfonheim. The Strahl can now reach Sky Fortress Bahamut, but boarding it begins the point-of-no-return route. Handle the newly opened hunts, shops, Espers, and other cleanup before boarding.